Modular and Scalable Soldier&#39;s Garment

ABSTRACT

A soldier&#39;s garment includes a hard plate carrier, a concealable carrier that can carry soft armor panels, and separate soft armor panels. The plate carrier can be worn alone, the concealable carrier can be worn alone, the plate carrier can be worn with the concealable carrier, or the plate carrier can be worn with the soft armor panels. The plate carrier has an actuatable quick release system for enabling release of the plate carrier. Each one of the concealable carrier and the soft armor panels is released from the soldier with the plate carrier when the quick release system is actuated.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/363,023, filed Jul. 9, 2010, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a soldier's garment, and in particular to agarment including a vest or torso portion that can be expanded or“scaled” to include other garment portions. Such a garment is useful formilitary personnel who can, depending on the perceived threat level andthe mission, wear less or more protection (armor, soft or hard) andfewer or more accessories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a strike-side plan view of a plate carrier that is onecomponent of a torso portion of a garment that is a first embodiment ofthe invention, the plate carrier being shown in an assembled condition;

FIG. 2 is a strike-side plan view of a front plate carrier panel thatforms part of the plate carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a strike-side plan view of a back plate carrier panel thatforms part of the plate carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a strike-side plan view of a front soft armor panel that formspart of the torso portion of the garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a strike-side plan view showing the front plate carrier panelassembled with the front soft armor panel;

FIG. 6 is a strike-side plan view of a back soft armor panel that formspart of the torso portion of the garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a strike-side plan view showing the back plate carrier panelassembled with the back soft armor panel;

FIG. 8 is a strike-side plan view of a concealable carrier that formspart of the torso portion of a garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a side closure that is a partof the concealable carrier of FIG. 8, shown in a retracted condition;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the side closure in anextended condition;

FIG. 11 is a strike side plan view showing the concealable carrierassembled to the plate carrier;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view showing details of the assembly of a backpanel of the concealable carrier to the back plate carrier panel;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing details of the assembly of a frontpanel of the concealable carrier to the a front plate carrier panel;

FIG. 14 is a strike side plan view of a cummerbund that forms part ofthe garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a body side plan view of the cummerbund of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a strike side plan view showing the cummerbund assembled tothe back plate carrier panel;

FIG. 17 is a strike side view showing the cummerbund assembled with twoload couplers;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17 showing one of the load couplersdisassembled from the cummerbund;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 17 showing the load couplers and thecummerbund assembled with a load belt that forms part of the garment ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of the loadcoupler and load belt;

FIG. 21 is a strike side view of a thigh protector that forms part ofthe garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 22 is a body side view of the thigh protector of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a partially schematic view showing the thigh protectorassembled with the torso portion of the garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of a throat protector that formspart of the garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 25 is an assembled view of the throat protector of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a body side view of a side armor plate that forms part of thegarment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 27 is a strike side view of the side armor plate of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a body side view of a groin protector that forms part of thegarment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 29 is a strike side view of the groin protector of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a body side view of a lower back soft armor panel that formspart of the garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 31 is a strike side view of the lower back soft armor panel of FIG.30;

FIG. 32 is a strike side view of a deltoid and bicep protector thatforms part of the garment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 33 is a body side view of the deltoid and bicep protector of FIG.32.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a soldier's garment. In particular, theinvention relates to vest or garment that which includes an armoredtorso portion and a number of accessory parts that can be optionallyconnected with the torso portion of the garment. The torso portionitself can be configured in several different ways using one or more ofthree components individually or in combination. As such, the garment is“scalable” to meet the perceived threat level and the mission.

The invention can be embodied in garments of different constructions; asrepresentative of the invention, the drawings illustrate a garment 10that is one embodiment of the invention. The garment 10 has a torsoportion 12 that includes as its basic components a plate carrier 14(FIG. 1); a set of soft armor panels 70 and 72 (FIGS. 4 and 6); and aconcealable carrier 18 (FIG. 8).

The plate carrier 14 (FIGS. 1-3) is a vest-like garment that includesfront and back plate carrier panels 20 and 22 connected with each otherby four buckles as described below. The front plate carrier panel 20 hasa main body portion 30 with a pocket 32 for carrying a hard armor panel.On the main body portion strike side is Molle webbing 34 for supportingaccessories. Extending from the top of the front plate carrier panel 20are two shoulder straps 36 each carrying a buckle 38. Two more buckles40 are located at the bottom of the front plate carrier panel 20, one oneach side.

The back plate carrier panel 22 includes a main body portion 42 with apocket 44 for carrying a hard armor panel. On the main body portionstrike side is Molle webbing 46 for supporting accessories. Extendingfrom the top of the front plate carrier panel 20 are two shoulder straps48 each carrying a tongue 50. On each side of the front plate carrierpanel 20, at the bottom, a waist strap 52 extends outward, carrying atongue 54.

The front and back plate carrier panels 20 and 22 are releasably joinedto each other by connecting the four tongues and buckles. The uppertongues 50 on the back plate carrier panel 22 are inserted into theupper buckles 38 on the front plate carrier panel 20. The waist straps52 from the back plate carrier panel 22 are extended forward about thewearer's waist and the lower tongues 54 are inserted into the lowerbuckles 40 on the front plate carrier panel 20. As a result, the twoplate carrier panels 20 and 22 are connected with each other at theshoulders, with the plate carrier shoulder straps 36 passing over thewearer's shoulders; and the two plate carrier panels are also connectedwith each other at the waist area. The waist straps 52 are adjustable inlength, as are the shoulder straps 36, for fit and comfort.

A quick-release system 56 is provided, to enable release of the platecarrier 14 from the soldier in an emergency situation. The quick-releasesystem 56 may be of any known type. One quick release system that ispreferred is the one shown in assignee's co-pending U.S. applicationSer. No. 12/976,285, filed Dec. 22, 2010, titled Quick Release BuckleWith Dual Release, published on Jul. 7, 2011 as US Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2011-0162177A1, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference. When the plate carrier 14 is assembled andbeing worn, the quick release system 56 is operable to release it fromthe wearer in an emergency situation. Pulling on a release tab 58transmits release force through a number of cables 60 (shown in phantomin FIG. 1) extending to the four buckles 38 and 40, releasing thebuckles and enabling the armor-laden plate carrier 14 to drop off thewearer.

The torso portion 12 of the garment 10 includes a set of soft armorpanels 70 and 72 (FIGS. 4 and 6). Each one of the soft armor panels 70and 72 includes a fabric covering that encloses a soft ballistic panel.The front soft armor panel 70 has two loops 74 near its top edge. Theback soft armor panel 72 has two loops 76 near its top edge, and twobelt loops 78 near its bottom edge. The panels 70 and 72 do not connectdirectly to each other, and are not worn alone by a soldier, but ratherare separately connectable with the plate carrier 14 in a manner asdescribed below.

The concealable carrier 18 (FIG. 8) is a garment that is small enoughand light enough to be worn under a shirt, and is thus concealable.Alternatively, the concealable carrier 18 can be worn over a shirt, withother parts of the garment 10 attached as desired.

The concealable carrier 18 is configured generally as a vest including afront panel 80 and a back panel 82 that are releasably joined to eachother with top closures and side closures. Each top closure includes ahook-faced strap 84 that extends forward from the top of the back panel82 and overlaps onto the top of the front panel 80, engaging a looppatch 86 on the front panel. The concealable carrier 18 has a large looppatch 100 on the lower area of the strike side of the front panel 80.

Each side closure 88 (left and right) of the concealable carrier 18includes an elastic strap system for connecting the back panel 82 to thefront panel 80. The elastic strap system includes two parallel elasticstraps 90 each having a back end portion fixed to the back panel 82 anda projecting front end portion 92. A single fabric connector panel 94 isconnected to the two front end portions 92 of the elastic straps 90. Theconnector panel 94 has a Velcro hook patch 96 on its inside.

To connect the back panel 82 to the front panel 80, the connector panel94 is pulled forward and engaged with the front panel, stretching tosome extent the elastic straps. The connector panel 94 is engaged withthe loop patch 100 on the front panel 80 of the concealable carrier 18,thereby securing that side of the concealable carrier. This procedure isrepeated on the opposite side of the garment 10.

The concealable carrier 18 includes on each side another fabric panel inthe form of a strap cover 102 that is fixed on the back panel 82 of theconcealable carrier. The strap cover 102 overlies the two elastic straps90 and extends to the front edge of the back panel 82. The strap cover102 covers the elastic straps 90 when the back panel 82 is not connectedwith the front panel 80. The dimensions of the strap cover 102, theelastic straps 90, the connector panel 94, and the front panel 80(including the loop patch 100) are selected so that when the straps areextended forward to connect the back panel 82 with the front panel (andalso when the straps are retracted), the straps remain substantially ifnot completely covered by the strap cover 102. This covering helps toprotect the straps 90 from the environment, which is beneficial becauseelastic straps are typically not made from a resistant material as arethe main panels of the concealable carrier 18. In addition, the strapcover 102 can bear a camouflage pattern (not shown), while elasticstraps typically do not. Further, the strap cover 102 can, unlike thestraps 90, be made from a fire retardant material, with a reduced IRsignature to minimize visibility and flammability. The strap cover 102can also help to protect the straps 90 and thus the side closure fromaccidental disengagement.

The concealable carrier 18 preferably includes pockets 104 for receivingsoft ballistic panels and hard ballistic plates. The concealable carrier18 may also include Molle webbing or other features on its exterior, forsupporting accessory portions of the garment 10 or other accessories.

The garment 10 is modular and scalable. The plate carrier 14 can be wornalone, in which case it is assembled and worn as described above.Alternatively, the concealable carrier 18 can be worn alone, asdescribed above. Further, the plate carrier 14 can be worn together withthe soft armor panels 70 and 72. Still further, the plate carrier 14 canbe worn with together with the concealable carrier 18, as describedbelow.

To assemble the plate carrier 14 with the soft armor panels 70 and 72(FIGS. 5 and 7), the front plate carrier panel 20 is detached from theback plate carrier panel 22 by releasing all four buckles. Then, theplate carrier panels 20 and 22 are laid on top of the soft armor panels70 and 72, respectively. The shoulder straps of the plate carrier 14 arereattached, but extending through the loops 74 and 76 on the front andback soft armor panels 70 and 72. This connects the upper portions ofthe soft armor panels 70 and 72 with the plate carrier panels 20 and 22.The loop patch 75 on the strike side of the front armor panel 70 securesthe lower portion of the front soft armor panel to the front platecarrier panel 20. The waist straps 52 of the back plate carrier panel 22are passed through the belt loops 78 on the back soft armor panel 72 tosecure the lower portion of the back soft armor panel to the back platecarrier panel 22.

When the plate carrier 14 is thus assembled with the soft armor panels70 and 72, the soft armor panels are located inside (on the body sideof) the plate carrier 14. The front soft armor panel 72 is attached bythe loops 74 and the loop patch 75 to the front plate carrier panel 20only. The back soft armor panel 72 is attached by the loops 76 and 78 tothe back plate carrier panel 22 only. As a result, when the quickrelease system 56 is actuated, and the front plate carrier panel 20separates from the back plate carrier panel 22, the front and back softarmor panels 70 and 72 also separate, and drop off the wearer. The quickrelease feature is thus preserved, even when the wearer is using thesoft armor panels 70 and 72 for additional protection to that providedby the plate carrier 14 alone.

To assemble the concealable carrier 18 to the plate carrier 14 (FIGS.8-13), the concealable carrier is first separated into its twocomponents—the front panel 80 and the back panel 82. Specifically, atthe shoulders, the straps 84 from the back concealable carrier panel 80are disengaged from their hook and loop connections with the frontconcealable carrier panel 82. Also, the plate carrier 14 is separatedinto its two components—the front plate carrier panel 20 and the backplate carrier panel 22—by disengaging the four buckles.

Then, the front concealable carrier panel 80 is connected with the frontplate carrier panel 20. The plate carrier panels 20 and 22 are laid flaton top of the concealable carrier panels 80 and 82, respectively.Exposed loop patches 105 on the body side of the shoulder straps 36 ofthe front plate carrier panel 20 are pressed into engagement withcorresponding hook patches 106 on the strike side of the shoulder straps84 of the front concealable carrier panel 80. A hook patch on the bodyside of the main body portion 30 of the front plate carrier front panel20 is pressed down into engagement with the large loop patch 100 on thestrike side of the front concealable carrier panel 80. In this manner,the front concealable carrier panel 80 is releasably secured to thefront plate carrier panel 20.

To connect the back concealable carrier panel 82 with the back platecarrier panel 22, the back plate carrier panel is laid over the backconcealable carrier panel. The side straps on the concealable carrier 18are folded over and secured to the inside of the concealable carrierback panel 82, out of the way. The shoulder strap 84 on the backconcealable carrier panel 82 is pushed through a loop 107 on the bodyside of the shoulder strap 48 of the back plate carrier panel 22. Theconcealable carrier shoulder strap 84 is then looped or folded back andsecured to itself with another hook and loop connection 108. Thissecures the upper portion of the back concealable carrier panel 82 tothe back plate carrier panel 22. To secure the lower portion of the backconcealable carrier panel 82 to the back plate carrier panel 22, thewaist straps 52 of the back plate carrier panel 22 are passed throughloops 111 on the back concealable carrier panel and when the straps arebuckled, the back concealable carrier panel 82 is secured.

As a result, the front concealable carrier panel 80 and the backconcealable carrier panel 82 are connected to each other, not directly,but rather only through the plate carrier 14. The plate carrier 14 isthus in the line of force transmission between, and is a load-bearingunit between, the front concealable carrier panel 80 and the backconcealable carrier panel 82.

Therefore, when the plate carrier 14 is assembled with the concealablecarrier panels 80 and 82, the quick release system 56 is still operable.When the front plate carrier panel 20 separates from the back platecarrier panel 22, the front and back concealable carrier panels 80 and82 separate also. The quick release feature is thus preserved, even whenthe wearer is using the concealable carrier 18 assembled with the platecarrier 14. The attachment and removal of the concealable carrier 18with the plate carrier 14 can also be done without first separating thetwo parts 20 and 22 of the plate carrier 14 from each other.

The garment 10 includes a stabilizing cummerbund 110 (FIGS. 14-16) thatcan be worn with the plate carrier 14. The cummerbund 110 is an elongatebelt-type piece that is connected with the back plate carrier panel 22in a manner as described below. The cummerbund 110 includes on itsstrike side a central loop patch 112, then extending out on each side anarrow loop 114 and a wide loop 116. Molle webbing 118 extends along thetop and bottom edges of the strike side 120 of the cummerbund 110. Thecummerbund 110 includes on its body side 122 two pockets 124 withopenings 126 at the bottom and, inside each pocket, a female snapfastener portion 128.

The cummerbund 110 is assembled with the back plate carrier panel 22(FIG. 16) by engaging the loop patch 112 on the cummerbund strike side120 with a corresponding hook patch on the body side lower portion ofthe back plate carrier panel 22. The plate carrier waist straps 52 areextended laterally outward through first the narrow loops 114 and thenthe wide loops 116 on the cummerbund 110. This secures the cummerbund110 to the back plate carrier panel 22. The ends of the cummerbund 110are not secured to each other.

The combination of the cummerbund 110 and plate carrier 14 can be morecomfortable and stable because the cummerbund 110 is wider (taller fromtop to bottom) than the waist straps 52 of the plate carrier 14. Thecummerbund 110 also provides additional accessory capacity via the Mollewebbing 118. The cummerbund 110 stays with the back plate carrier panel22 when the garment 10 is worn and also when the quick release system 56is actuated.

The cummerbund 110 also serves as part of a load belt system 130 (FIGS.17-20) that helps to transfer load from the soldier's shoulders to thesoldier's hips. The load belt system 130 includes, in addition to thecummerbund 110, a load belt 132 and a pair of load couplers 134 thatextend between the cummerbund and the load belt. The load belt 132 wrapsaround the soldier's waist and is connected with a tongue and buckle atits ends. The load belt 132 is in a position to transfer verticallydownward force onto the soldier's hips and waist. The load belt 132 isnot directly connected to and does not release with the plate carrier 14or the concealable carrier 18.

The load belt 132 has two pockets 136 on its body side, one on each sideof center, opening upward. The pockets 136 are adapted to receive thelower ends of the load couplers 134. Each load coupler 134 is a fabricmaterial pocket with a rigid, load-bearing insert. Each load coupler 134has a hook patch 140 at its wider lower end, and a male snap fastener142 portion at its narrower upper end.

To assemble the load belt system 130, the upper ends of the loadcouplers 134 are inserted upward into the downward opening pockets 124on the cummerbund 110. The male snap fastener 142 portions on the loadcouplers 134 are snapped into engagement with the female snap fastenerportions 128 on the cummerbund 110, at a location above the load belt132 and inside the pockets 124 on the body side 122 of the cummerbund.

The lower ends of the load couplers 134 are inserted downward into theupward opening pockets 136 in the load belt 132, and bottom out in thepockets. The hook patches 140 on the load couplers 134 engage looppatches 144 inside the pockets 136, to securely connect the loadcouplers with the load belt 132.

The load couplers 134 are thereby placed in a vertical load bearingrelationship between the plate carrier 14 and the load belt 132.Specifically, downward load from the plate carrier 14 is transferredthrough the cummerbund 110 into the load couplers 134, thence into theload belt 132, and thence onto the soldier's hips and waist. The loadbelt system 130 can therefore significantly decrease the load exerted onthe soldier's shoulders. The load couplers 134 stay with the cummerbund110, and release from the load belt 132, when the quick release system56 is actuated.

Each one of the two pockets 136 on the load belt 132 is wider(laterally) than is the lower end of the load coupler 134. Therefore,the load coupler 134 can be placed into the pocket 136 at a plurality ofdifferent locations along the lateral extent of the load belt 132,accommodating different size wearers. In addition, each one of the twopockets 136 on the load belt 132 has three different pocket portions 136a-136 c with associated Velcro retainers 144. The bottom walls of thethree pocket portions 136 a-136 c are at three different heights on theload belt 132. As a result, the load coupler 134 can bottom out in andbe retained in the pocket 136 at three different vertical positionsrelative to the overall height of the load belt 132. This adjustabilitycan accommodate different height wearers of the garment 10 when the loadbelt system 130 is being used.

The garment 10 includes a number of accessory parts that can beconnected with the torso portion to offer additional protection. Forexample, the garment includes two thigh protectors 150 (FIGS. 21-23),one for each leg. Each thigh protector 150 includes a pocket forinsertion of a soft armor panel for helping to protect the soldier'sthigh. Additional Molle loops on the exterior are provided for mountingsupplementary armor panels. The thigh protector 150 is supported on thetorso portion 12 of the gal anent 10 by a strap portion 152 that extendsupward from the thigh protector and that buckles with a second strapportion that extends downward from the concealable carrier 18 or fromthe plate carrier 14.

A pivot connection is provided between the strap 152 and the thighprotector 150. The pivot connection, in this embodiment, includes aD-ring 156 on the thigh protector 150, around which is looped thesupport strap 152. The looped strap 152 is slidable along the D-ring 156in a direction between the opposite ends of the curved portion of theD-ring. As a result, the thigh protector 150 is supported on the torsoportion 12 of the garment 10 for pivotal movement relative to the torsoportion, about the point of engagement of the strap 152 and the D-ring156. Thus, when the soldier walks, and the leg pivots relative to thetorso, this articulating joint (pivotal connection) allows the thighprotector 150 to pivot relative to the torso portion 12, without overlyflexing the support strap 152. This pivoting movement can help to reducewear on the support strap 152, and can also enable increased mobility.Alternative types of pivotal connection, such as buckles or rings, forexample, can be provided between the thigh protector 150 and the torsoportion 12.

The thigh protector 150 is held to the thigh by an elastic strap system158 similar to that provided on the concealable carrier 18. In theillustrated embodiment, the elastic strap system 158 on the thighprotector 150 includes two separate vertically spaced elastic straps160, without a connector panel at their outer ends, which straps havetheir inner ends hidden under a cover panel 162 on the thigh protector.The straps 160 bear Velcro patches 161. The straps 160 when extended canengage with Velcro patches 164 on the opposite side of the thighprotector 150, to hold the thigh protector to the thigh. The portions ofthe straps 160 that are under the cover panel 162 are protected, asdescribed above.

The garment 10 also includes a throat protector 170 (FIGS. 24-25) thatcarries ballistic material for helping to protect the throat of asoldier. The throat protector 170 connects with a yoke 172, which is aseparate piece that connects with the torso portion 12 of the garment.The throat protector 170 is optional, but when worn requires the yoke172.

The throat protector 170 includes ballistic material sewn into a throatprotector carrier 174. The ballistic material extends longitudinallyalong the throat protector carrier 174 between the two ends (wings) 176of the throat protector carrier, which are stiff but resilientprojecting tabs. The throat protector carrier 174 is attached to theyoke 172 by inserting the wings 176 of the throat protector carrier intoslots (pockets) 178 in the tubular portion of the yoke 172 thatencircles the soldier's neck.

The throat protector carrier 174 has a Velcro tab 179 at its front thatis connected with the torso portion 12 of the vest 10, or with the yoke172, when the throat protector 170 is worn. If desired for comfort, thewings 176 of the throat protector carrier 174 can be slipped out(forward) from the yoke 172, and the throat protector 170 flipped downand forward, remaining connected only by the Velcro tab 179, when theadded ballistic protection of the throat protector is not needed.

The garment 10 also includes a pair of side armor plates 180 (FIGS.26-27) that can be positioned at the wearer's side, along the waist, tohelp protect that area. Each side armor plate 180 includes on its bodyside one or more loops 182 that can be used to support the plate on theplate carrier waist straps 52 or on the Molle webbing of the cummerbund110 or of the concealable carrier 18. Each side armor plate 180 alsoincludes on its strike side a loop 184 or other structure for supportingan accessory.

The garment 10 also includes a groin panel 190 (FIGS. 28-29), which canbe attached to the lower front of the torso portion 12 of the garment 10and hangs down to protect the soldier's groin area. The groin panel hasa pocket for receiving a soft armor panel. The garment 10 also includesa lower back panel 192 (FIGS. 30-31), which can be attached to the lowerback portion of the torso portion 12 of the garment, below the rearplate carrier 14. The lower back panel 192 has a pocket for receiving asoft armor panel to protect the wearer's lower spinal area.

The garment 10 also includes a pair of deltoid and bicep protectors 194and 196 (FIGS. 32-33) that can be supported on the upper end of thetorso portion 12 of the garment 10 and hang down over the soldier'sshoulders and upper arms. The deltoid protector 194 may be used alone,or the bicep protector 196 can be attached to the deltoid protector.

1. A soldier's garment comprising a torso portion and accessory garmentparts; the torso portion of the garment comprising a plate carrier to beworn by the soldier, the plate carrier including front and back platecarrier panels each adapted to carry hard armor panels; the platecarrier including shoulder straps releasably interconnecting upperportions of the front and back plate carrier panels, the shoulder strapsextending across the soldier's shoulders when the plate carrier is beingworn; the plate carrier including side straps releasably interconnectinglower portions of the front and back plate carrier panels, the sidestraps extending along the soldier's lower torso area when the platecarrier is being worn; the plate carrier including an actuatable quickrelease system for enabling release of the plate carrier from thesoldier; and the torso portion of the garment further comprising atleast one other garment part that is adapted to carry soft armor panelsthat are separate from the accessory garment parts, the at least oneother garment part being adapted to be worn as two separate armoredpieces that can be attached to the plate carrier and that are releasedfrom the soldier with the plate carrier when the quick release system isactuated.
 2. A garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least oneother garment part is a concealable carrier that can be worn underclothing without connection with the plate carrier or can alternativelybe worn connected with the plate carrier; the concealable carriercomprising separate front and back panels that can be releasably joinedby left and right shoulder straps and by left and right side straps onthe back panel to make the concealable carrier a one-piece garment fordoffing and donning without being connected with the plate carrier; eachone of the front and back panels of the concealable carrier including apocket for receiving soft armor; each one of the front and back panelsof the concealable carrier including loops for receiving the shoulderstraps of the plate carrier; the front panel of the concealable carrierbeing separable from the back panel of the cc, and the separated frontand back concealable carrier panels thereafter being connectable withthe front and back panels, respectively, of the plate carrier, wherebythe plate carrier and concealable carrier can be worn together as oneunit forming the torso portion of the garment, and whereby the frontpanel of the concealable carrier stays with the front plate carrierpanel and the back panel of the concealable carrier stays with the backplate carrier panel when the quick release system of the plate carrieris actuated.
 3. A garment as set forth in claim 2 wherein theconcealable carrier left and right side straps have elastic portions andthe concealable carrier has protective cover panels for covering theelastic portions of the side straps.
 4. A garment as set forth in claim3 wherein the concealable carrier includes a single fabric connectorpanel connected to the elastic straps on each side, the connector panelbeing securable by a hook and loop connection to the concealable carrierfront panel, and the cover panel covering the elastic straps when thussecured.
 5. A garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least oneother garment part is a set of front and back soft armor panels that donot have shoulder straps or side straps for joining to each other; thefront soft armor panel including loops for receiving the shoulder strapsof the plate carrier to support the front soft armor panel on the frontplate carrier panel, and the back soft armor panel including loops forreceiving the shoulder straps of the plate carrier to support the backsoft armor panel on the back plate carrier panel; the front and backsoft armor panels being carried by and releasing with the front and backplate carrier panels, respectively, upon actuation of the quick releasemechanism of the plate carrier.
 6. A garment as set forth in claim 1wherein the at least one other garment part is a cummerbund that istaller than the plate carrier side straps and that attaches to the backplate carrier panel and that stays with the back plate carrier panelwhen the quick release system of the plate carrier is actuated.
 7. Agarment as set forth in claim 6 wherein the cummerbund includes aportion for receiving a downwardly-depending load coupler fortransmitting load from the plate carrier to a load belt worn by thesolider thereby to reduce the load on the soldier's shoulders.
 8. Asoldier's garment comprising: a plate carrier for carrying armor plates,the plate carrier having shoulder straps for extending over theshoulders of the soldier and for transferring load of the plate carrierto the soldier's shoulders, the plate carrier including a quick releasesystem; and a load belt system for helping to transfer load of the platecarrier from the soldier's shoulders to the soldier's hips; the loadbelt system including a load belt that is extensible around thesoldier's waist to place the load belt in a position to transfervertically downward force on the load belt onto the soldier's hips andwaist; and the load belt system also including at least two loadcouplers removably connectable in a vertical load bearing positionbetween the plate carrier and the load belt.
 9. A garment as set forthin claim 8 wherein: the plate carrier includes front and back platecarrier panels that are releasably interconnected by the shoulder strapsand by side straps, all of which straps are released upon actuation ofthe quick release system; the load belt system further includes astabilizing cummerbund that is connectable with the back plate carrierpanel and the side straps, the cummerbund being releasable with the backplate carrier panel upon actuation of the quick release system; and theload couplers are connected between the cummerbund and the load belt totransmit load from the plate carrier through the cummerbund and the loadcouplers to the load belt.
 10. A garment as set forth in claim 9 whereinthe load couplers stay with the load belt and release from thecummerbund when the quick release system is actuated.
 11. A garment asset forth in claim 9 wherein the load belt has two pockets, one on eachside of center, opening upward and adapted to receive and supportvertically the lower ends of the load couplers; the upper ends of theload couplers are connected with the cummerbund in a force-transmittingmanner; and the downward load of the plate carrier is transmitted fromthe plate carrier to the cummerbund and thence to the load couplers andthence to the load belt and thence to the soldier's waist and hipsthereby relieving load on the soldier's shoulders.
 12. A garment as setforth in claim 8 wherein each pocket in the load belt has threedifferent bottom walls to provide three different height loadtransmission paths, and wherein each pocket is substantially wider thanthe lower ends of the load couplers to enable lateral positioning of theload couplers in the pockets.
 13. A soldier's garment comprising: atorso portion including a hard plate carrier, a concealable carrier thatcan carry soft armor panels, and separate soft armor panels, wherein theplate carrier can be worn alone, the concealable carrier can be wornalone, the plate carrier can be worn with the concealable carrier, orthe plate carrier can be worn with the soft armor panels; the platecarrier having an actuatable quick release system for enabling releaseof the plate carrier from the soldier; each one of the concealablecarrier and the soft armor panels being released with the plate carrierwhen the quick release system is actuated.
 14. A garment as set forth inclaim 13 further including a plurality of accessory garment piecesincluding one or more selected from a group including a stabilizingcummerbund, a load belt, a throat protector, thigh pads, side plates,deltoid pads, bicep pads, a back pad, and a groin pad.
 15. A garment asset forth in claim 13 further including a throat protector that hasstiff, resilient flexible tabs that slide rearward into slots in thetorso portion of the garment to hold the throat protector in position onthe torso portion of the garment.
 16. A garment as set forth in claim 13further including two thigh protectors, one for each leg, that caninclude ballistic material for helping to protect the soldier's thighs,each thigh protector being supported on the torso portion of the garmentby a support strap that extends downward from the torso portion, and bya pivotal connection between the strap and the thigh protector.
 17. Agarment as set forth in claim 16 wherein the pivotal connection includesa D-ring on the thigh protector, around which is looped the supportstrap, the support strap being slidable along the D-ring in a directionbetween opposite ends of the curved portion of the D-ring, thereby tosupport the thigh protector on the concealable carrier for pivotalmovement relative to the concealable carrier about the point ofengagement of the strap and the D-ring.
 18. A garment as set forth inclaim 16 wherein the thigh protector is configured to contain one ormore hard plates in pockets of fabric material.